Shuttle-tension device



Feb. 3. 1925 I 1,524,822

w. P. HART ,HUTTLE TENSION DEVICE Filed Dec. 1923 l Attorney Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

WILLIAM IE. HART, OF SOUTHBRIIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 DRAPER COR- PORATION, OF HOIPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SHUTTLE-TENSION DEVIQE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAu P. HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Southbridge, in the 'county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Shuttle-Tension Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates broadly to loom shuttles, and more particularly to a thread tension device for use in loom shuttles.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a tension device for automatic threaders which may be adjusted according to the kind of yarn or thread carried by the bobbin in the shuttle to impart the degree of tension required for such different materials.

Another object of my invention is to provide a removable tension device which may be readily inserted in various constructions of automatic threaders and adjusted in position according to the properties of the thread used in the loom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a tension device for automatic threaders comprising a cylindrical body having a thread groove therein provided with parallel walls extending throughout a portion of the groove and angularly disposed walls adjacent the parallel walls to guide the thread into the groove or slot.

Stillanother object of my invention is to provide a replaceable insert for automatic threaders having a surface treated in such manner that the thread running thereover will have the proper tension imparted thereto for securing the best results with given weights and twists of yarn in the weaving of cloth.

Myinvention also contemplates the provision ofmeans for locking the adjustable tension device in a selected position after the particularposition has been determined for the given weight and twist of the thread with which it is employed.

Other and further objects of my invention will be understood from the specification which follows when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loom shuttle showing the application of my adjustable'tension device thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of an auto matio threader showing the adjustable tension device of my invention carried therein;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing a shuttle, an automatic threader carried therein, and the arrangement of my adjustable tension device in the automatic threader; and Fig. 4- is a cross sec tional view of a modified form of my adjustable tension device having its surface treated for particular weights or kinds of threads or yarns which may be carried by the bobbin.

within the shuttle. j

The form of my invention illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter described in detail constitutes one of the practical embodiments of the invention capable of efficient operation. In the art of weaving cloth the yarn may have a right or left hand twist. on the bobbin in either a right or left hand direction. In the operation of shuttles in the weaving process if yarn which has a right hand twist is subject to a force which imparts to it a left hand twist, the yarn results in an unbalanced twist, giving it a kinky formation. Kinky yarn is difficult to place under proper tension. Normally, when the yarn is unwinding from the bobbin in the shuttle it follows a rotary path. There is potential energy stored in the yarn on the bobbin which is transformed to kinetic energy as the yarn rotates or unwinds from the bobbin. The forces acting upon the thread as it unwinds from the bobbin may tend to throw the thread upwardly out of the automatic threader. The adjustable'tension device of my present invention has been designed to overcome or reduce the kinetic energy or centrifugal force in the path of the travel of the yarn and to prevent the yarn from leaving the threader. The tension device may be adjusted to accommodate threadthat is twisted in either a right or left-hand direction, and it may also be adjusted to position its slot at vari- The yarn'may also be wound channel and correspondingly the harder that the yarn hits, the greater will be the force acting against the centrifugal force serving toneutralize the same. The centrifugal force also increases as the velocity of the shuttle increases.

A proportional force is brought into play as the thread hits the walls of the channel, thereby balancing th forces in the thread and also balancing the twist. In the operation of-the loom a certain magnitude of force is applied to. the shuttle to move it across to the opposite shuttle box, and when the shuttle hits the side walls of the shuttle box it imparts some of the kinetic energy possessed by the shuttle to some of the yarn, changing the potential energyv in some of the yarn to kinetic energy as the yarn is released from the bobbin. The tension device of my invention operates to retard the progress of the yarn caused by this sudden shock.

Broadly, my adjustable tension device comprises a slotted member which may be inserted in the automatic threader. The slot of said member is provided with substantially parallel walls and has angularly disposed walls for directingthe thread into the slot. The tension device may be rotated in the automatic threader in either direction, depending upon the direction of rotation of the yarn and the direction of twist. lVhen the position of the tension device has been selected for the particular kind of thread or yarn employed, it is secured in the selected position by an adjusting screw. It will be understood that the angular position of the tension will vary for cotton, woolen, or other material. I may also. treat the surface of the tension device to secure more efficient operation for the different materials having different charactreistics and properties.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates a shuttle containing a block 0r automatic threader 2- having a thread passage 3. My adjustable tension device a is shown as positioned in the block or automatic threader a, and comprises a cylindrical member having a slot or channel 5 running longitudinally throughthe body thereof and provided with walls 6 and 7 in parallel relationship and extending in the direction of the travel of the thread. Adjacent the entrance to the thread channel 5 the walls are angularly disposed, as indicated at 14 and 15, to direct the thread into the channel. The tension device may be ro tated within the threader 2 to cause the channel to assume different angular positions...

In Fig. 2 I'hav'e represented the direction of theyarn as it unwinds from the bobbin with rotary motion by means of the full line arrow 9; When the yarn rotates from the bobbin in this clockwise direction the tension device is set in the full'line position disposed toward the right. If the yarn is rotating inthe direction indicated by the dotted line arrow 10, the tension device is moved in a counter-clockwise direction and set in dotted line position 8. The position of the tension device is varied and selected for particular weights and kinds of yarn and tin-cad and then set by means of screw 11. Access is obtained to the adjusting screw 1] through an aperture 12 in the shuttle.

For different kinds of yarns and threads I may construct the tension device of different types of material, such as steel, fiber, porcelain, or glass. 1 have determined that hardened steel operates better as a tension device for cotton while steel glazed over with vitreous matter, as represented at 16 in Fig. 4, operates better with woolen yarns which require minimum. tension by reason of its characteristic relatively heavy weight.

It will be understood that the tension device is adjustable by small angular increments to selected positions to give maximum or minimum tension. The weight and twist of different yarns varies so that it is nece. sary to vary the position of the tension device accordingly to secure the best results in the weaving of cloth. The kinetic energy existing. by reason of the travel of the yarn 'expends itself against the hard walls of the tension device whereby a contiuously running balanced weave is obtained.

While I have described my invention in certain particular ebodiments, it is to be understood that modifications may be made and that I intend no limitations upon the inventions other than are imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letlers Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. An automatically threading loom shuttle lr ving a thread passage, a tension device adjustably mounted in the thread passage to rotate about an axis extending longitudinally of the shuttle to present the thread contacting walls thereof in different position that the tensioning effect on the thread may be varied, and means for securingthe tension de ice in different positions of angular adjustment within the thread passage.

2. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a thread passage, a tension device adjustably mounted in said passage to turn aboutan axis extending longitudinally of the shuttle and provided with av slot, and means for securing the tension device in different positions of angular adjustment within the thread passage to present the thread contacting walls of the slot in different positions and thus vary the tensioning effect upon the thread passing through the tensioning device.

3. In a shuttle, the combination of a threading block having a thread passage, a tension device having a thread receiving opening and adjustably mounted in the block to turn about an axis extending longitudinally of the shuttle to present the thread contacting Walls of the opening at different angles that the effect upon the thread may be varied, and means for securing the tension device in different positions of angular adjustment Within the thread passage. 7

4. In a shuttle, in combination, a threading block having a thread passage, a tension device comprising a cylindrical member adjustably mounted in the thread passage and provided with a thread receiving slot, means for supporting the tension device for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the shuttle to vary the angular disposition of the thread engaging Walls of said slot and the consequent effect upon the thread passing therethrough, and means for securing the tension device in different positions of angular adjustment.

5. In combination with a shuttle having a thread passage extending longitudinally of the shuttle, a tension device mounted for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the shuttle and having a slot for re ceiving a thread, and means for securing the tension device in different positions of adjustment about said axis so that the slot may be turned to'present its entrance to Ward either side Wall of the thread passage to facilitate entrance of the thread thereto in accordance With the Whirl of the thread.

6. In combination With a shuttle having a thread passage extending longitudinally of the shuttle, a tension device mounted in said passage for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the shuttle and having a slot for receiving a thread, a vitreous material upon the Walls of said slot, and means for securing the tension device in different positions of angular adjustment about said axis to present the thread contacting walls of the slot in different positions and to accommodate the tension device to the character of the thread in use.

7. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a threading block provided with a thread passage, a tension device having a thread receiving opening and mounted for rotative movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the thread passage to present the Walls of the opening for tle having a thread passage, a tension device having a thread receivlng slot provided With a flaring entrance and mounted for rotative adjustment about an axis extending longitudinally of the shuttle to present the flaring entrance to the thread in accordance With its direction of rotation, and means for securing the tension device in adjusted posi tion.

10. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a thread passage, a thread tensioning device having a thread receiving opening and mounted for adjustment about an axis extending longitudinally of the shuttle to present the opening for the entrance of the thread in accordance With the direction of its whirling action and present the thread engaging Walls in different inclinations to vary the tension in conformity with the properties of the thread in use.

11. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a thread passage, a tensioning device having a thread passage opening upwardly and mounted for adjustment about an axis extending longitudinally of the shuttle to present the thread engaging Walls of the tensioning device in a direction inclined toward either side of the shuttle to vary the tensioning effect upon the thread passing therethrough.

WILLIAM P. HART. 

